How lovely is the Princess Salome tonight
Look at the moon's disk, how strange it looks
Like a woman who steps out of the grave
It is very strange
Like a little princess whose feet are white doves
One could imagine it is dancing
Like a woman who is dead
It glides slowly along
What is that commotion?
What are those wild animals who are howling?
The Jews
They are always like that
They are quarrelling over their religion
I find it laughable to quarrel over such things
How lovely is the Princess Salome tonight
You always look at her
You look at her too much
It is dangerous to look at people in this manner
Dreadful things can happen
She is very lovely this evening
The Tetrarch looks so grim
Yes, he looks grim
At whom is he looking?
I don't know
How pale the Princess is
Never have I seen her so pale
She is like the shadow of a white rose in a silver mirror
You must not look at her. You look at her too much
Dreadful things can happen
After me, One will come who is stronger than me
I am not worthy to loosen the laces on his shoes
When He comes, the deserted towns will rejoice
When He comes, the eyes of the blind will see daylight
When He comes, the ears of the deaf will be opened
Make him be quiet!
He is a holy man
He always says laughable things
He is very gentle
Every day when I give him food to eat
He thanks me
Who is it'?
A PYOphet
What is his name'?
Jokanaan
Whence does he come'?
From the desert
A crowd of disciples was always around him
What does he speak about?
It's impossible to understand what he says
Can one see him?
No, the Tetrarch has forbidden it
The Princess is rising
She is leaving the table
She is very upset. She is coming here
Don't look at her
Yes, she is coming towards us
I beg you, don't look at her
She is like a bewildered dove
I don't want to stay. I cannot stay
Why does the Tetrarch always look at me in such a way
With his mole-eyes under his blinking eyelids?
It is strange that my mother's husband looks at me like that
How sweet the air is here
Here I can breathe
Inside there sit Jews from Jerusalem
Ripping one another apart over their foolish sacred rites
Silent, cunning Egyptians and brutal, coarse Romans
With their gross language
Oh, howl hate these Romans!
Dreadful things will happen
Why do you look at her in such a way'?
How good it is to look at the moon
It is like a silver flower
Cool and chaste
Yes, like the pure beauty of a virgin
See, the Lord has come
The Son of Man is near
Who was it that cried here?
The Prophet, Princess
Ah, the Prophet!
The one the Tetrarch is afraid of'?
We know nothing about that, Princess
It was the Prophet Jokanaan who called out here
Do you desire that I have your litter brought to you, Princess?
The night is pleasant in the garden
He says terrible things about my mother, it is not so'?
We never understand what he says, Princess
Yes, he says terrible things about her
Princess, the Tetrarch requests that you return to the feast
I don't want to go back in
Is this Prophet an old man'?
Princess, it would be better to go back in
Allow me to escort you inside
Is this Prophet an old man'?
No, Princess, he is quite young
Rejoice not, thou land of Palestine
Because the rod of he who smote you is broken
For from of the seed of the serpent
A basilisk will come
And its brood will devour all the birds
What a curious voice! I would like to speak with him
Princess, the Tetrarch won't allow anyone to speak to him
He even forbade the High Priest to speak to him
I wish to speak to him
It is impossible, Princess
I want to speak to him
Bring this Prophet out
We are not allowed to do this, Princess
How black it is down there
It must be terrible to live in such a black cave
It is like a tomb
Haven't you heard?
Bring this Prophet out
I would like to see him
Princess, we are not allowed to do what you ask of us
Oh, what will happen?
I know, dreadful things will happen
You will do it for me
Narraboth, won't you?
I was always well disposed towards you
You will do it for me
I only want to see him, this strange Prophet
People have spoken of him so much
I think the Tetrarch is afraid of him
The Tetrarch has expressly forbidden
That anyone should raise the lid of this cistern
You will do it for me, Narraboth
And tomorrow, when I go past in a litter
At the gateway where the idol-sellers stand
I will let a little flower fall for you
A small, green little flower
Princess, I can't
You will do it for me, Narraboth
You know, you will do it for me
And tomorrow morning I will dart a glance at you
Narraboth, under my muslin veils
I will look at you
Maybe I will smile at you
Look at me, Narraboth
How well you know you will do what I ask of you
How you know it
I know you will do it
Let the Prophet come out
The Princess Salome wishes to see him
Where is he, whose cup of sins now runneth over'?
Where is he, the one who one day
Will die in a silver robe before the face of all people?
Bid him come here
So that he may hear the voice of He
Who crieth in the wilderness
And crieth aloud in the palaces of kings
Whom is he talking about?
No one can say, Princess
Where is she, who succumbed to the lust of her eyes
Who stood before brightly painted pictures of men
And sent envoys to Chaldea?
He speaks of my mother
No, no, Princess
Yes, he speaks of my mother
Where is she, who gave herself to the Assyrian captains?
Where is she
Who gave herself to the young Egyptian men
Glittering in their fine linen and hyacinth stone inlays
With their golden shields and bodies like giants?
Go, bid her rise from the bed of her abomination
From the bed of her incest
So that she may hear the words of He...
He who prepares the path for our Lord
And thus rue her misdeeds
And if she will not repent, ask her to come here
For the scourge of the Lord is in his hand
He is terrible
He is truly terrible
Don't stay here, Princess, I beg you
His eyes are the most frightening thing of all
They are like black caves where the dragons dwell
They are like black lakes from which demented moonlight flickers
Do you think that he will speak again?
Don't stay here, Princess, I beg you
Don't stay here
How emaciated he is
He looks like a statue of ivory
Surely he is as chaste as the moon
His flesh must be very cool
Cool as ivory
I would like to look at him more closely
No, no, Princess!
I must look more closely at him
Princess!
Who is this woman who is looking at me'?
I don't want her to stare at me
Why does she look at me this way
With her golden eyes under her glistening eyelids?
I don't know who she is
I don't want to know who she is
Bid her leave!
I don't wish to speak to her
I am Salome, the daughter of Herodias
Princess of Judea
Stand back, daughter of Babylon!
Do not come close to the chosen one of the Lord!
Your mother has filled the earth with the wine of her iniquities
And the enormity of her sins cries to God
Speak, Jokanaan
Your voice is like music to my ears
Princess!
Speak more, Jokanaan
And tell me what I must do
Daughter of Sodom, don't come near me
Rather, cover your face with a veil
Spread ashes over your head
Get thee into the desert
And seek the Son of Man
Who is he, this Son of Man'?
Is he as beautiful as you, Jokanaan?
Get thee away from me!
I hear the wings of the angel of death beating in the palace
Jokanaan!
Princess, I beg you, go inside!
Jokanaan!
I am in love with your body!
Jokanaan!
Your body is as white as the lilies in the field
Untouched by the scythe
Your body is as white as the snow on the hills of Judea
The roses in the garden of Arabia's queen
Are not as white as your body
Not the roses in the garden of the queen
Nor the feet of the dawn upon the leaves
Nor the breasts of the moon upon the sea
Nothing in the world is as white as your body
Let me touch it
Your body
Stand back, daughter of Babylon
Woman brought evil to this world
Don't speak to me
I don't want to listen to you
I hearken only to the voice of my Lord, my God
Your body is hideous
It is like the body of a leper
It is like a whitewashed wall where vipers have crawled
Like a whitewashed wall
Where scorpions have built their nest
ls is like an over-whitewashed grave full of repulsive things
It is ghastly, your body, it is ghastly
lam in love with your hair, Jokanaan
Your hair is like wine grapes
Like bushels of black grapes on the vines of Edom
Your hair is like the cedars
The big cedars of Lebanon
Where lions and robbers seek shelter in their shade
The long black nights when the moon hides itself
When the stars are fearful
Are not as black as your hair
The stillness of the woods
Nothing in the world is as black as your hair
Let me touch it
Your hair
Stand back, daughter of Sodom
Do not touch me
Do not profane the temple of the Lord, my God
Your hair is loathsome!
It is covered with dust and filth
It is like a crown of thorns placed upon your head
It is like a knot of serpents wrapped around your neck
I don't love your hair
Your mouth I desire, Jokanaan
Your mouth is like a scarlet band on a tower of ivory
It is like a pomegranate sliced open by a silver knife
The pomegranate blossoms in the gardens of Tyre
Brighter than roses and not as red
The red fanfares of trumpets
Announcing the approach of kings
And before the enemy trembling
Are not as red as your red mouth
Your mouth is redder than the feet of the men
Who trample the wine in the winepress
It is redder than the feet of the doves
Dwelling in the temples
Your mouth is like a coral branch in the twilight of the sea
Like the purple in the mines of Moab
The purple of kings
Nothing in the world is as red as your mouth
Let me kiss it
Your mouth
N ever
Daughter of Babylon, daughter of Sodom
N ever
I want to kiss your mouth, Jokanaan
Princess, who is like a garden of myrtle
Who is the dove among all doves
Don't look at this man
Don't speak such words to him
I cannot stand it
I want to kiss your mouth, Jokanaan
Let me kiss your mouth
Jokanaan
Aren't you afraid, daughter of Herodias?
Let me kiss your mouth
- Jokanaan! - Daughter of adultery
There is only One who can save you
Go, look for Him!
Look for Him!
He is on a boat
On the sea of Galilee
And talks to His disciples
Kneel down at the shore of the sea
Call unto Him
And call Him by his name
When He comes to you
And He comes to all who call unto Him
Then bow down at His feet
So that He may forgive your sins
Let me kiss your mouth
Jokanaan
Be cursed, daughter of your incestuous mother!
Be cursed!
Let me kiss your mouth
Jokanaan
I don't want to look at you
I curse you, Salome!
I curse you
Where is Salome? Where is the Princess?
Why did she not return to the banquet as I commanded her'?
Ah! There she is!
You must not look at her
You always look at her!
How the moon looks tonight!
Is it not an uncanny look?
It looks like a mad woman
Who is searching for lovers everywhere
Like a drunken woman who is reeling through clouds
No, the moon is like the moon
That's all
We must go inside
I want to stay here
Manassah, spread rugs here! Light some torches
I want to drink some more wine with my guests!
Ah! I have slipped
I have stepped in blood, it is an ill omen
Why is there blood here?
And this dead man, who is this dead man here?
Who is this dead man'? I don't want to see him
It is our captain, Sire
I left no orders for him to be killed
He killed himself, Sire
It seems strange to me
The young Syrian, he was very handsome
I remember, I saw his yearning eyes
When he looked at Salome
Off with him!
Is it cold here?
There's a wind blowing
- Isn't there a wind blowing? - No, there is no wind
I tell you, there's a wind blowing
And I hear something in the air
Like the beating of powerful wings
Can't you hear it'?
I hear nothing
Now I don't hear it anymore
But I did hear it
It was the blowing of the wind
It is over
Listen! Can't you hear it'?
The beating of powerful wings
You are sick. We must go inside
I'm not sick
But your daughter is sick to death
Never have I seen her so pale
I told you not to look at her
Pour me some wine
Salome, come, drink wine with me
An exquisite wine
Caesar himself sent it to me
Dip your little lips in it
Your little red lips
Then I will drain the cup
I am not thirsty, Tetrarch
Do you hear how she answers me, this daughter of yours?
She is right. Why do you gape at her'?
Bring ripe fruits!
Salome, come, eat with me of these fruits
I love to see the marks of your little white teeth in a fruit
Bite off only a little
Only a little from this fruit
Then I will eat what is left
I am not hungry, Tetrarch
You see how you brought up this daughter of yours!
My daughter and I come from royal blood
Your father was a camel driver
Your father was a thief and a robber in addition
Salome, come, sit with me
You must sit on your mother's throne
I am not tired, Tetrarch
You see what she thinks of you
Bring me... What is it I want?
I have forgotten
I remember!
Behold, the time has come
The day of which I spoke is here
Bid him be silent! This man is insulting me
He has said nothing against you
Furthermore, he is a very great prophet
I don't believe in prophets. But you, you are afraid of him!
I am afraid of no one
I'm telling you, you are afraid of him!
Why don't you deliver him over to the Jews
Who have been screaming for him for months?
Truly, Sire, it would be better to hand him over to us
Enough of that!
I will not hand him over to you
He is a holy man
He is a man who has seen God
That cannot be
Since the Prophet Elijah, no one has seen God
He was the last one who saw God face to face
In our days God does not show Himself. God hides
That is why great evil has come over the land
Great evil
In truth, nobody knows if Elijah has really seen God
Maybe it was only the shadow of God that he saw
God is never hidden
He shows Himself at all times and in all places
God is in all that is bad as well as in all that is good
You shouldn't say that
It is a very dangerous doctrine that comes from Alexandria
And the Greeks are pagans
Nobody can tell how God works
His ways are very obscure here
We can bow our heads to His will
For God is very mighty
You speak the truth. Indeed God is frightful
But as far as this man is concerned, he has never seen God
Since the Prophet Elijah, no one has seen God
Tell them to be quiet, they bore me
Yet I have heard it said that in truth, this Jokanaan may be your prophet Elijah
That cannot be
Since the days of the prophet Elijah, more than three hundred years have passed
He is sure that he is the prophet Elijah
In no way! He is not the prophet Elijah
Tell them to be quiet!
Behold, the day is near
The day of the Lord
And I hear upon the hills the steps of He
Who shall be the redeemer of the world
What does that mean
The redeemer of the world?
The Messiah has come
The Messiah has not come
He has come and everywhere he performs miracles
At a wedding in Galilee, He changed water into wine
He healed two lepers from Capernaum
By simply touching them
He did also heal the blind
They saw Him on a hill in conversation with angels
Oho! I don't believe in miracles
I've been hearing too many stories about miracles
He raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead
What! He raises the dead?
Indeed, He raises the dead
I forbid Him to do that
It would be awful if the dead were to come back
Where is the man at present?
Lord, He is everywhere, but it is hard to find Him
The man must be found
They say that He is dwelling in Samaria now
A few days ago He left Samaria
I think, at the moment He is in the vicinity of Jerusalem
Hear this! I forbid Him to raise the dead
- Oh, about this lustful woman - It would be awful
- The daughter of Babylon - If the dead were to come back
Thus speaks the Lord, our God
Order him to be quiet!
A crowd of men will gather against her
And they will take stones and stone her to death
Truly, it is disgraceful!
The army's captains will run her through with their swords
And crush her beneath their shields
It is disgraceful, he should be quiet
I therefore say that I shall wipe out all wickedness from this earth
And that I shall teach all women
Not to walk in the paths of their iniquity
You hear what he says against me, you condone it
To revile your wife like that
He never mentioned your name
There will come a day
When the sun shall turn dark like a black cloth
And the moon shall become as blood
And the stars of Heaven will fall to earth
Like unripened figs from the fig tree
There comes a day when the kings of this earth shall tremble
Ha ha! This prophet babbles on like a drunk
But I can't stand the sound of his voice
I hate his voice
Order him to be quiet!
Dance for me, Salome
I will not have her dance
I have no desire to dance, Tetrarch
Salome, daughter of Herodias, dance for me!
I don't want to dance, Tetrarch
You see how she obeys you
- Salome, Salome, dance for me - He will sit upon his throne
- I beg you. lam sad tonight - He will be clad in scarlet and purple
- Therefore dance for me, Salome - The angel of the Lord
- If you dance for me - Will strike him down
- You can ask me for whatever you wish - And the worms will devour his body
I will grant it
Will you really give me everything
That I ask from you, Tetrarch?
Do not dance, my daughter!
Anything, anything that you ask me for
Even if it should be half of my kingdom
Do you swear, Tetrarch?
I swear it, Salome
On what will you swear this oath, Tetrarch?
By my life, by my crown
- Do not dance, my daughter - By my gods
Oh Salome, Salome, dance for me
You have sworn an oath, Tetrarch
I have sworn an oath!
My daughter, do not dance!
And were it half of my kingdom
You will be as lovely as a queen
immeasurably lovely
Ah, it is cold here
An icy wind is blowing and I hear...
Why do I hear this beating of wings in the air?
Ah! It is as if a monstrously black bird hovered over the terrace
Why can I not see it, this bird?
This beating of wings is awful!
It is a cutting wind
But no, it is not cold, it is hot
Pour water over my hands
Give me snow to eat, help me loosen my coat
Quickly, quickly! Help me loosen my coat
But no! Leave it! This crown oppresses me
These roses are like fire
Ah! Now I can breathe
Now I am happy
Do you want to dance for me, Salome?
- I won't have her dance! - I want to dance for you
Who is He, who comes from Edom?
Who is He, who comes from Basra'?
- We must go inside - Wearing a dyed purple garment
- This voice - Who shines
- Drives me out of my mind - In the beauty of His garments
- I don't want my daughter dancing - Who mightily in His greatness wanders
While he constantly interrupts with his yelling
I will not have her dance
- While you're looking at her like that - Why is Your garment spotted with scarlet?
In one word, I will not have her dance
Don't stand up, my wife, my queen
It won't help you. I won't go inside until she dances
Dance, Salome, dance for me!
Do not dance, my daughter!
I am ready, Tetrarch
Ah! Wondrous!
Wonderful, wonderful!
You see, she danced for me, your daughter
Come here, Salome, come here
You will have your reward
I will reward you in a kingly way
I want to give you everything your heart desires
What do you wish to have'? Speak!
I want them to bring me on a silver platter...
On a silver platter...
Quite so... on a silver platter...
She is charming, isn't she?
What is it that you want on a silver platter?
Oh sweet, beautiful Salome
Who is more beautiful than all the daughters of Judea
What should they bring you on a silver platter?
Tell me!
Whatever it may be, you shall receive it
My treasures belong to you
What is it that you would like to have, Salome?
The head of Jokanaan
- No, no, Salome! - Ah! That was well said, my daughter!
- That is not what you desire - That was well said
Don't listen to the voice of your mother
She always gave you bad advice
Pay no attention to her
I pay no attention to the voice of my mother
I want the head of Jokanaan for my own delight
On a silver platter
You have sworn an oath
Herod, you have sworn an oath
Don't forget that!
I know, I have sworn an oath. I know it well
By my gods have I sworn
But I beseech you, Salome
Ask me for something else
Ask for half of my kingdom
I will give it to you
But do not ask for what your lips asked for
I ask from you the head of Jokanaan!
No, I won't give it to you
You have sworn an oath, Herod
Yes, you have sworn an oath
Everybody heard it
Quiet, woman! I'm not talking to you!
My daughter was right to demand the head of Jokanaan
He hurled disgraceful insults against me
One can see that she loves her mother
Do not give in, my daughter, do not give in
He has sworn an oath
Quiet, don't talk to me
Salome, I entreat you, don't be stubborn!
Look, I have always loved you
Maybe I have loved you too much
Therefore, do not demand this from me
The head of a man, separated from the body
ls a terrible sight
Listen to what I'm saying!
I have an emerald
It is the most beautiful emerald in the whole world
You would love to have it, wouldn't you?
Ask me for it, I shall give it to you
The most beautiful emerald
I demand the head of Jokanaan!
You are not listening, you are not listening
Let me speak to you, Salome
The head of Jokanaan
You only say that to torment me
Because I looked at you in that way
Your beauty has befuddled me
Oh, bring wine. I am thirsty!
Salome, Salome
Let us treat one another as friends
Consider!
Ah! What did I want to say'?
What was it'?
Ah! I remember now
Salome, you know my white peacocks
My beautiful white peacocks
Which wander in the garden among the myrtles
I want to give them all to you
There isn't a king in the whole world who has such peacocks
I have but a hundred, but I want to give them all to you
Give me the head of Jokanaan
Well said, my daughter!
- Quiet, woman! You shriek like a bird of prey - And you are ridiculous with your peacocks
Your voice pains me
Quiet, I say!
Salome, think about what you want to do
It could be that the man was sent by God
He is a holy man
He was touched by the finger of God
You wouldn't wish for some harm to befall me, Salome?
Listen to me now!
I want the head of Jokanaan
You won't listen to me
Be calm, Salome
You see, I am calm
Listen
I have jewels hidden in this place
Jewels that even your mother has never seen
I have a necklace with four strands of pearls
Topaz, yellow as the eyes of the tigers
Topaz, bright red like the eyes of the wood dove
And green topaz, like cats' eyes
I have opals which always gleam
With a firs, cold as ice
I want to give them all to you, all of them
I have chrysolites and beryls, chrysopase and rubies
I have sardonyx and hyacinth stones and stones of chalcedony
I want to give them all to you, all and still other things
I have a crystal into which no woman has ever been allowed to look
In a mother of pearl case, I have three wondrous turquoises
Whoever wears them on their brow can see things that are not real
They are priceless treasures
What do you want in addition, Salome?
Everything you want I will give you... But one thing
But the life of this one man
I shall give you the High Priest's sacred robe
I shall give you the curtain of the holy-of-holies
Give me the head of Jokanaan!
Give her what she wants!
She truly is her mother's child!
Who took my ring?
I had a ring on my right hand
Who drank my wine?
There was wine in my cup
It was filled with wine
Someone drank it
Oh! It is certain that a misfortune will come over someone
My daughter did right!
I am sure a misfortune will occur
There is no sound to be heard
I hear nothing
Why doesn't the man scream?
Ah! If someone came to kill me, I would scream
I would defend myself, I would not bear it!
Strike, strike, Namaan, strike, strike!
No, I hear nothing
There is a frightful stillness
Ah! Something fell to the floor
I hear something fall
It was the sword of the executioner
He is afraid, this slave
He dropped the sword
He doesn't dare to kill him
He is a coward, this slave. Send soldiers down!
Come here, you were a friend of this dead man, no'?
Well, then I tell you, there are not yet enough dead men
Go to the soldiers and order them to go down there
And to bring me what I demand, what the Tetrarch promised me
What is mine!
Come here, you soldiers, go down into the cistern
And bring me the head of that man
Tetrarch, Tetrarch, order your soldiers
To bring me the head of Jokanaan
You wouldn't let me kiss your mouth, Jokanaan!
Well, I will kiss it now
I want to bite into it with my teeth
As one may bite into a ripe fruit
Yes, I want to kiss it now
Your mouth, Jokanaan
I said it
Did I not say it'?
Yes, I said it
I want to kiss it now
But why don't you look at me, Jokanaan?
Your eyes, which were so terrible
So full of rage and contempt, are now shut
Why are they shut'?
Open your eyes, lift up your eyelids, Jokanaan
Why don't you look at me'?
Are you afraid of me, Jokanaan
So that you don't dare look at me'?
And your tongue, it speaks no word, Jokanaan
This scarlet viper which spat its poison against me
It is strange, isn't it'?
How is it that this red viper no longer moves?
You spoke angry words against me, against me, Salome
The daughter of Herodias, Princess of Judea
Well now, lam still alive
And you are dead
And your head, your head belongs to me
I can do with it what I want
I can throw it to the dogs and to the birds in the air
Whatever the dogs leave uneaten, the birds in the airwill devour
Jokanaan, Jokanaan
You were beautiful
Your body was an ivory column on silver feet
It was a garden full of doves in the silver lilies' glow
Nothing in the world was so white as your body
Nothing in the world was so black as your hair
In the whole world, nothing was so red as your mouth
Your voice was like an incense burner
And when I looked at you
I heard wondrous music
Why did you not look at me, Jokanaan?
Over your eyes you placed the blindfold of one who wished to see his God
Well, you may have seen your God, Jokanaan
But me, me, you never saw me
Had you seen me
You would have loved me!
I thirst after your beauty
I hunger after your body
Neither wine nor apples can appease my desire
What should I do now, Jokanaan?
Neither the floods nor the great waters
Can put out this ardent desire
Oh! Why did you not look at me'?
Had you seen me
You would have loved me
I know it well
You would have loved me
And the mystery of love
ls greater than the mystery...
Of death
She is a monster, your daughter
I tell you, she is a monster
My daughter did right
I would like to stay here now
Ah! That is my brother's wife speaking
I don't want to stay in this place
Come, I tell you!
Surely something terrible will happen
We want to hide in this palace
Herodias, lam beginning to tremble
Manassah, lssachar, Ozias, put out the torches
Hide the moon, hide the stars
Something terrible will happen
Ah! I have kissed your mouth
Jokanaan
Ah! I have kissed it
Your mouth
There was a bitter taste upon your lips
Did it taste like blood?
No! But it tasted perhaps like love
They say that love tastes bitter
But what of it'?
What of it'?
I have kissed your mouth
Jokanaan
I have kissed it
Your mouth
Kill this woman!